Antifriction bearing



June ze, 192s. 1,674,821

w. A. GElGER ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed March 24, 1924 [1mi /ff Patented .lime Z, 1928.

"lv STAFF@ l atraen rarer-.ir erica.,

WILLIAM A. GEIGER, OF CHICAGO, TILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

W. H. MINER, INC.,

A CORPORATIONVOF DELAWARE.

ANTIFRICTION BEARING.

This invention relates to improvements in anti-friction bearings.

One object of the invention isto provide a simple, practical and relatively inexpensive anti-frietion bearing, especially adapted for use as a railway car side bearing, and wherein the part-s are s o arranged that the anti-friction element proper is automatically returned to center under vthe influence of gravity when free from load.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a .bearing of the kind described, wherein the' free rolling movement of the anti-friction .element proper is permitted, but any accidental bodily shifting thereof resulting from jarring or other causes is substantially prevented.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the, drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the ends 'of the ybody and truck holsters of a railway car, showing my improvements in connection therewith. And Figure 2 isa vertical sectional View corresponding substantially to the line 27-2 of Figure l. f

In said drawing, 10 denotes the under side of the body bolster and 11 the upper side of the corresponding opposed truck bolster. The improved side bearing is shown as applied to the truck bolster and comprises, broadly: a base casting, retaining member or housing A; an anti-friction element proper B; and counterweights (1 -C, at the ends of said anti-friction element.

The housing A is of more or less box-like form, having` end walls 13-13 and vertical side walls lll-14, each of the latter having a laterally outwardly offset portion 15 for a purpose hereinafter described. A plate 12 is arranged in the bottom ofthe housing to form a bearing surface for the antifriction element, said plate beingvsecured to the truck bolster by means of rivets 19 and secured to the housing by means of rivets 16. A pair of ribs 17 are formed at the opposite ends of the housing, the ribs at each end extending inwardly of the housing toward those on the opposite end and having theirinner edges curved to provide stops Open- Vnient of the anti-friction member.

ings 18 maybe provided through the side walls of the housing at their lower ends, above the wear plate 12,v to facilitate the removal of dirt, cinders or other foreign matter from the housing.

The'anti-friction. element B, as shown, is in the form of a truly cylindrical roller adapted to roll back and forth' to either side of central position on the bearing plate 12. central portion 20 and with projections or lugs 21 at the bottoms of the opposite ends.

`the width between the opposed vertical walls forming the guideway 15, thus permitting vertical movement of the counterweip-ht in the guideway without undue friction therebetween and preventing any rotation or undue shifting of the counterweight therein. The width of each lug 21 is substantially equal to the width of each counterweiglit C; that is, .it `is substantially equal to the width of the guideway 15, so that when the roller is in' its normal central position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, any accidental bodily shifting thereof resulting from j arring` or other causes is substantially prevented. The counterweights have their lower straight edges or surfaces resting on the straight upper faces 22 of the lugs 21 of the anti-friction element so as to be support-ed thereby. I

As the roller is actuated in either direction from its normal position, under load and after the body bolster 10 has come into contact with the roller, the anti-friction elementproper will roll on the wear plate 12 to an end position as indicated in dottedV lines in Figure 1, thereby causing the lugs 21 to tilt and thus slidably engage the counterweights and lift them to their uppermostposition. As soon as the load onthe element B is re- This roller is provided with a main ormoved, the weight of the counterweights acts on the upt-ilted ends'of the lugs to roll the roller back and serves to eiiectively return the anti-friction element toits normal central position.

rIhe use of the counterweights and projections on the anti-friction element proper in the manner disclosed, brings about a very efticient and sensitive return eliect upon the anti-friction element and one which allows a more compact structure than obtainable were counterweights of equal effect employed rigidly with the anti-friction element. It will be noted that, as the projections 21 are moved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the centers or" mass of the counterweights C are elevated a much greater distance than are the centers of mass of the projections 21, this being due to the fact that the rising'edges of the projectio-ns 21 act as cams in lifting the counterweights while the latter are confined to vertical movement. Furthermore, during the return action when the load is removed from the anti-friction element proper, the `lull weight ot the counterweights C is eliective with the same degree or' e'lhciency throughout the entire return movement of the anti-friction element and until the last instant of the return action, when the counterweights and projections 21 come into 'full surface contact, it being evident that the counterweights bear upon edges of the projections 21 unt-il the last instant of thereturn action.

Aspreviously pointed out, the width of the lugs and counterweights are only slightlyv lessr than the width of the guideways, thereby permitting the rocking or rolling of the antifriction element in either direction and yetV preventingl any shifting of the `element which might disturb the relation of the parts and prevent the return of the element to normal central position after its actuation.

In assembling the device, the counterweights are inserted into the guideways, the anti-friction element is neXt arranged within the housing with its lugs positioned in the guideways, and then the wear plate 12 is secured to the housing by means of the rivets 16. After the bearing has been assembled in this manner, it may be shipped or handled without danger oi the parts becoming lost, stolen, damaged or misplaced.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredV manner of carrying outniy invention, but the saine is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a housing adapted to be mounted on a bolster or the like; of an anti-'friction element proper disposed within said housin C 'and adapted to rollito either `side of vnormal central position therein, said element having segmental projections normally arranged at the bottom of said sides, said housing beingv provided with vertical guidewaysof a width substantially equal to the Width of said segmental projections and permitting but slight play therebetween lengthwise ot'l said housing; and vertically shiftable counterweight-s slidably arranged within said guideways and constantly supported on said segmental projections so as to be slidably engaged and lifted thereby when said element is actuated to either side of central position.

'2. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination with a housing adapted to be mounted on a bolster or the like; of an anti-friction roller disposed Within said housing and Y adapted to roll to either side of central position therein, said element having segmental projections at the bottom of its sides, each of said segmental projections having afflat top face, and a rounded lower :tace conposition therein and having eccentric projections located at the sides of the element and adjacent the periphery of said element,l

each of said projections having an inwardly f disposed fiat engaging face; and vertically shiftable imperforate counter-weights having peripheral edges slidably' engageable with the flat engaging faces of said projections, said housing having verticaly guideways adjacent said counter-weights so asto receive the same and constrain, the counterweights to vertical movement whereby movement of said elementlto either sideof central position effects slidablerengageinent of said projections and said counter-weights to displace the latter. in's'aid guide-ways to cause an unbalanced condition serving to return said element to aY central position when the actuating pressure is removed therefrom.

L1. In an anti-friction bearing, the conbivnationwith a housing having a bottom opening, said'housing being adapted to be mounted on a bolster or the like; of a detachable bearing plate for closing said bottom opening, an anti-friction roller disposed in said housing and adapted to roll on said bearing plate to either side of normal Cen-V tral position with respect thereto, said element having an integral eccentric projection at each end thereof, and said housing being provided With elongated vertical guide-Ways closed at their outer extremities by overhanging portions of said housing, said element being insertable in said housing through said bottom opening; and counter-weights arranged in said guide-Ways and having portions resting on said projections, and adapted to be vertically displaced thereby upon movement of said element, movement of said counter-Weights being limited by the overhanging portions of said housing, and said counter-Weights and said overhanging portions serving to maintain said anti-friction elementagainst detachment with respect to said housing.

5. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination With a housing having side and end Walls, said side Walls being off-set to providel vertically extending centrally disptosed guide-Ways of restricted Width as compared with the longitudinal extent of said housing; a bearing surface7 an anti-friction element having a diameter greater in extent than the height of said housing, and the Width of said vertical guide-Ways; eccentric projections on said element adjacent the periphery thereof, said projections being of a Width as to fit Within said vertical guide- Ways having flat top faces; and counter- Weights arranged in said guide-Ways and having peripheral flat edges thereof resting on said flat faces of said eccentric projections.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of March 1924.

WILLIAM A. GEIGER. 

